Wow! Noelle Ihli does it again! This book stressed me out in the best way.
Nya is broke and alone trying to finish her last semester of nursing school when she comes across a cheap room for rent. I found myself internally screaming at her to get out more than once! I think she passed her anxiety on to me!
This was such a good book! It comes out this month! Thank you Netgalley for a chance to read this early! Go check it out!

Wow! This is such a fast paced, creepy, and unsettling read. I love the short chapters and the writing style of this book!

A bit too ridiculous and predictable for me, but it was entertaining enough to finish. I'd like to read more from this author, I definitely see potential here. Fans of thrillers or even horror could enjoy this.

I read a few reviews before trying this book out, and one said that it was a medium intensity until about the 70% mark, then it got crazy. I’d say that was accurate; I was enjoying the book, but not understanding where the thrill was until closer to the end.

Nya is a college student with only a semester to go, and she needs a place to rent for that semester. A very cheap place. Finally she finds a room she can afford with a roommate named Sidney…only when she got to the house, it turns out Sidney is actually Sid - a man who enjoys drum circles, drugs and not wearing clothes. Nya comes from a strict religious background, and this definitely has her freaked out. It’s just a semester, right? Four months. She can handle four months.

Things are even better when she meets Curtis, a student as poor as her who doesn’t mind sharing his dinners. Curtis is definitely into Nya, but the feeling isn’t very mutual. Yes, Curtis is sweet, slightly cute and a good friend, but is she thinking long-term plans with him? Not exactly, but it’s nice to have him around.

This did play around until the ending began, and then at one point, it got so freaky that it started to dip into horror (which I definitely didn’t mind). I had already guessed part of the ending, but the other half was a surprise. I wouldn’t say there were mindblowing twists, and yes, a lot of the book is waiting for something to happen, but overall, this was a decent story. 3.5 stars.

(Thank you to Dynamite Books, Noelle W. Ihli, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on October 13, 2023.)

Nya is flat broke, has mounting debt and on her own for the last semester of her degree. Her best friend and former roommate Jade finished her degree the previous semester and got a job back home. In 6 months, once she finishes her course she will rejoin Jade and they can reunite as roomies once again. She just has to get through this last semester. Living on campus is really not an affordable option, so when she gets an opportunity to share a house off campus that is cheap and the housemate seems harmless in the photo, she jumps at the chance. Plus she has no other options. But when Nya meets her new roommate and the house all she wants to do is run! But out of options she gives it a go, it’s only 1 semester. Nya starts to feel like someone is watching her, creeping into her room, eating her food and touching her things. When things begin to escalate, Nya is not sure she’ll make it through the night let alone the semester!

Book review: I have become a real fan of Noelle Ihli, I have absolutely raved about ask for Andrea, and I’m going to tentatively say it’s the best book I’ve read this year. Although not quite at the pedestal I have put Ask for Andrea on, Room for a rent is an exceptional read, and somewhat unique to many other thrillers I’ve read. This book gives you all the feels, desperation, pity, joy, first love flutters, exhaustion, curiosity and ick (you’ll understand when you read it!). You feel like you’re in Nya’s shoes, you’re rooting for her, cheering her on. I would rate it a solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5) as I did guess the twists but even so the read was really enjoyable and I finished it within 24 hours. (I can’t say one sitting as I have children who would never allow me to read a book in one sitting 😂). This book releases on the 13th of October and I really think it is a great one for creep factor during the spooky season.

Thankyou to NetGalley and Dynamite Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. #bookreview #arcreview #thriller #netgalley #noelleihli

Just wow! Ihli does it again. Thrilling from chapter 1. Nya has one semester left and has to rent a room somewhere. It might be a dump, and a little creepy at that but it’s just a semester, right. Curtis sweeps in and is kind, feeds her, courts her. She talks to her best friend often, she can put up with a creepy roommate even if he is spying on her. Then things go from bad to worse! The twist is amazing, and oh my, I’m going to be thinking about this one!

Loved the book cover and the blurb seemed interesting enough to prompt me to request it. However, it didn't work right from the beginning. The first chapter is like a prologue, which didn't build any intrigue. But prologues are usually useless, in my opinion, so I decided to go ahead. Mainly because the author's writing style seemed easy and engaging.

The main protagonist, Nya, is so annoying and kind of stupid. So are her circumstances.

So, she rents a shared flat that was supposed to be in rough shape because it's cheap (understandable). But when she reaches there, it turns out her flatmate is not a girl as she had expected. It's a ―a dirty, indecent, ill mannered man. I mean who rents a shared flat without confirming the details of the person they are supposed to share a flat with? So she leaves the flat (good decision) but then goes back to live with him, because well, her mother doesn't care about her; no other family member; she is the first one from her village to attend college (??); she doesn't have any other friends; her car is so ancient that it might break down anytime; she doesn't have money (even for gas to be filled in her car); her phone's battery is dying when she needs it…I mean it was too much. And annoying. It seemed like she was trapped somewhere deserted or something like that.

Plus, it didn't build intrigue or sense of mystery. Sadly, I didn't want to know what's going to happen next.

Thank you for the copy. Sorry it didn't work for me.

I really enjoyed Run on Red so has high hopes for this book and it didn't let me down! The story is so tense and gripping with a neat twist. I read it in one sitting!

This was heart pounding and nerve wracking. In her true fashion. Yes the main character made some dumb decisions but anyone who’s ever been desperate for money, understands.

Nya, a college student is searching for a room to rent for a semester. She sees an add for one, and in desperate need takes it. Her house mate, Sid, is a sickly, questionable man. When she meets and befriends Carlos, she starts to feel a little safe, until she doesn't!
Entertaining read!

Thank you to Netgalley and Diamond books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Room for Rent follows the story of sheltered Nya as she moves into a sketchy house for her senior year of college. Not only is the house disgusting, but she has a very creepy male roommate as well.

Things start looking up for Nya once she meets Curtis. Curtis seems to be the answer to her prayers. As the semester progresses though, Nya starts to think someone is lurking outside her room at night…

Thank you NetGalley for Room for Rent. It will go on sale on October 13, 2023!

I’ll give it to Noelle West Ilhi, she knows how to keep the reader interested. While I do think some parts were repetitive/dragged on a bit, lots of the chapters ended on cliffhangers and made me want to keep reading.

She also did a great job of building the tension, from unease to full blown survival mode. I know that a lot of Anya’s naiveté can be chalked up to her strict religious upbringing, but it was so frustrating to watch her return to the house night and night.

I caught some of the twists and was surprised by others. The last few chapters were a wild ride. I think fans of Run On Red would also enjoy this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

The premise of the book is a girl is looking for a room to rent for her last semester in college. She doesn’t have a lot of money so she has to settle for a room at Sidney’s house. She gets bad vibes right away, but can’t move out because she has no other options. Truly a nightmare situation.

I would give this book 4.5 stars. I loved the pacing of this book, it had short chapters (which I love) and I never wanted to put it down. There were some good twists and a lot of the scenes had me on the edge of my seat.

Some of the writing itself was a bit cliche (“I left out a breath I didn’t know I was holding”) and phrases were repeated pretty often, but for the most part it didn’t take away from the reading.

I also loved the main character’s best friend Jade! I would love a book centered around her, I think it would be so interesting.

All in all, a great fast thriller! I will definitely be checking out other books by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dynamite Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

My Rating: 2⭐️⭐️ pretty lacklustre and unfortunate stars!!!

Nya can’t remember the last time she felt safe. The rundown freaky rental house she’s living in isn’t right, her creepo roommate isn’t right… and that feeling that someone is going through her things just isn’t right.

Nya has convinced herself that she can tough it out until the end of semester… but will she survive that long.

So, for me, this was a letdown. I really like this author and I was super excited to see that there was a new book coming out… I really liked Run on Red and immediately went to NetGalley and requested this one.

Unfortunately I seem to be on outlier island yet again… lets start with what I did like (this is going to be spoiler free - because I do think a lot of people will like this).

Noelle’s writing style is super easy flowing and great to read, thats what sucked me into her last book. The chapters are short and punchy and the sentences are not too long winded. She can definitely write and I really enjoy her style. I also like the length of the book, its never too long so if you are enjoying it you can always be left feeling like you could have done with a bit more which is a bonus in my eyes.

The other thing that I did really like about the story was that it did have that sense of foreboding and dread… I did feel a bit stressed like if that were happening to me I would be freaked out proper… I was concerned that there was going to be surprise supernatural themes in this book and I am glad to tell you that there is none of that… because anyone who knows me knows a thriller with a ghost is a cop out thriller… that’s just my opinion… I do not read for ghosts.

Unfortunately though after an initial uplift feeling good about the story it kind of went downhill for me. The writing itself was not bad… it just went around in circles a bit … got very repetitive like that was helping the suspense but also I was a little bit like… well hurry the F up and go home so we can see what’s up!!! Like sh*t is going down… and you are taking the scenic route downtown studying, and checking your phone… girl lets get this done…

I was annoyed at Nya, which does seem to be a theme throughout the reviews… she is a little dumb as rocks, I mean super super creepy sh*t is happening and shes making excuses all cause shes broke… nahhh Nya, time to go bye-a … I am not sticking around when undies are going missing and you are waking up thinking someone is in your room… keep that thank you… I am gone.

I know she was meant to be clueless because of her sheltered church going upbringing but she constantly left out creepy info to tell her bestie on the phone cause she would have told her to haul ass outta there… so she knew… like nah she knew… why risk your life for cheep rent… with some dirt bag druggo slopping around in his undies in your house… absolutely the hell not.

I did guess some of the twist… not all but again the story kind of laboured and I was bored… I am sorry… but I was… and that is never a good sign in a thriller… I want a story that is keeping me awake at night… one where at under 300 pages I can finish in under a day cause I simply cannot put that bad boy down… I did not have that at all…

The ending was a big letdown if you ask me… and even though no one did I will tell you… as I said no spoilers but I was not impressed. It was a bit of an eye roll if I am honest.

It was short… and it was sharp but the story…. Talk about take the long way home…

Overall, it was by no means the worst book out there and there are gonna be people that eat this up… and I am so happy you will cause I do really like this author (I will be back), but for my GR besties… this isn’t for you…
Big thank you to NetGalley, Dynamite Books and the author Noelle West Ihli for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Ihli impressed me when I read ask for Andrea. It was emotional and different, and I have waited in anticipation for a new book by her. In room for rent, we meet Nya who starts living in a house with a tenant who gives her the creeps. She’s poor and have no friends, and soon we discover that something’s not right with the house and tenant she lives with.

Ihli again managed to keep me invested. I could feel the tension from the beginning, and the way Ihli described the house gave me the creeps. We knew from the get-go that something bad was about to happen, and that made me pay more attention to the plot. The last chapters were intense, and what made me give all the stars was how all the questions Nya had, were answered. I love when an author ties up the loose ends neatly. I figured some of the twist out, but not all of it. So it will keep you guessing until the very end.

All in all an enjoyable read. I already want to read more of ihli’s books!


Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for my review

After reading "Run on Red" and enjoying it I was really looking forward to "Room for Rent" by Noelle West Ihli. While there was still a good sense of tension and unease throughout the book the overall story didn't do it for me. The book kept a good pace and was well written. I like the character development, even if I felt it was a bit far fetched at points. I think I just didn't like the story, which is okay because it was still an enjoyable read just not one I would likely recommend to a reader similar to myself. I will keep reading Noelle West Ihli's book because I do like her writing style and will hopefully enjoy her next.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in advance of publication.

I was hooked on this story from the very beginning. The first chapter gave me a shot of adrenaline that peaked my curiosity & definitely spooked me, and it only got better from there. Reading this book as a woman who is unfortunately no stranger to the behaviour of creepy men, I found that this added layer of realism made the book all the more terrifying - you never really knew who to trust. I was nervous from the very first chapter and the story evoked a clear sense of dread. Prepare to be CONSUMED by the electrifying atmosphere the author creates. With every twist and turn, your heart will race, your palms will sweat, and you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat, DESPERATE to know what happens next. This is psychological thriller at its FINEST, folks!

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an ARC.
I really enjoyed this book. And as a former broke college student from a conservative religious family, I felt for her. However the situation she was in was an impossible one. I was incredulous that she was trying to navigate it on her own. I just wanted to take her out for a big meal and give her a bed to sleep for the night; maybe even write her a check!
There aren't any big surprises here especially when we learn pretty early on that Nya is getting a bad feeling from Curtis.
I would've liked to know more about Arlo and Sid's backgrounds. Why they were the way they were, go deeper into the rift between them etc.

This book was super creepy from the start.. and although it seemed pretty cut and dry at first it definitely had some good twists at the end. It was a quick, easy read.

I hate to say this but this book just didn’t do it for me. I loved Ihli’s last book but this one fell so flat to me. It started out strong, but honestly nothing even happened from 20-65% in and I was so bored.